INDIANAPOLIS (May 6, 2014) – The Indiana Health Industry Forum (IHIF), the state’s trade association for companies in the health science sector, presented a check for $500 to the student team from the McKenzie Center for Innovation and Technology (Lawrence, Indiana) as the prize in the first Indiana High School Biotechnology Consortium’s Student Research Contest. The team’s poster was titled: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Early Detection Biosensor, which featured a 3-D printed prototype of a diagnostic sensor.

Student teams from the McKenzie Center for Innovation and Technology and Greenfield Central Community High School competed in a contest judged last evening by the attendees at the opening reception for IHIF’s Annual Meeting. The IHBC is a collaboration between select Project Lead The Way (PLTW) high schools offering a four-year biomedical curriculum and the Indiana Health Industry Forum (IHIF) to pursue research in the secondary academic environment.

The students participating in the competition (and their posters) included:

The IHBC seeks to develop an open network of health science professionals willing to mentor research projects that are developed by PLTW students. IHBC is also looking for sponsors for financial support for materials and entry fees and any materials, lab space, or used equipment that might be donated to support the program.

If you would like to find out more about the IHBC, please visit the IHIF website (http://www.ihif.org/pages/education) or register and let us know about your interest in assisting with future teams and projects.

IHIF’s 2014 Annual Meeting celebrated the organization’s 20th anniversary. Formed in 1994, IHIF was among the first organizations dedicated to building the state’s health and life science business community. Membership currently stands at over 118 businesses and organizations, including large companies and entrepreneurs across several sectors including: healthcare, medical device, pharma/biotech, digital health, education, and support services.

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About IHIF

The diverse members of the Indiana Health Industry Forum generate the collective voice of the state’s health and life science industry. The Forum connects key stakeholders to enhance business networks, advocate for member interests, develop workforce skills, and provide strategic vision in the interest of growing the state’s health industry economy and reputation. IHIF is the Indiana affiliate of the Biotechnology Industry Organization. To learn more, please visit www.ihif.org

About PLTW

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the nation’s leading provider of STEM programs. PLTW’s world-class, activity-, project-, and problem-based curriculum and high-quality teacher professional development model, combined with an engaged network of educators and corporate partners, help students develop the skills needed to succeed in our global economy. More than 5,000 elementary, middle, and high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are currently offering PLTW courses to their students. For more information, visit www.pltw.org.